The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Nine-year-old Mia Tang’s immigrant Chinese parents manage the Calivista Motel in Anaheim. Because the job comes with a room to live in, and because their family has been homeless on and off since coming to the United States, Mia’s parents won’t complain to Mr. Yao, the owner, about his unfair labor practices. Outgoing Mia likes helping out at the front desk. She checks short-term guests in and becomes friends with the “regulars,” customers who live there, while unofficial guests—Chinese immigrants her parents occasionally let stay for free when Mr. Yao isn’t around—give her an even deeper understanding of how immigrant workers can be threatened and exploited. Mia’s English is more proficient than her parents, although, her mom cautions, not good enough to be a writer, Mia’s dream. It’s a remark made out of the concern that Mia be realistic, but it cuts deep, undermining Mia’s confidence. Mia is a natural optimist, however. She’s also precocious and determined, whether entering an essay contest to win a hotel in Vermont, fighting back against racism faced by an African American resident, or pulling off an incredible organizational coup. The results of her efforts are not only satisfying, but firmly grounded in this upbeat, engaging novel’s realm of possibility. (Ages 8–11)

CCBC Choices 2019 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2019. Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from July 27, 2020
Aspiring writer Mia Tang, 11, returns in this complex yet accessible middle grade novel, the sequel to Yang's Front Desk. Newly named co-owners of the Calivista Motel in Anaheim, Calif., the Tangs are "on the good rollercoaster now," having escaped the authoritarian rule of former owner Mr. Yao. But their financial security is not guaranteed, and burgeoning racist sentiments and hate crimes-involving the impending 1994 gubernatorial election and one candidate's bill proposing to "kick undocumented children out of California schools"-only make matters worse. As Mia and her family and friends face numerous instances of
discrimination, they must concurrently inhabit the liminal spaces of being immigrants of color in America, interrogating exactly what it means to believe in justice, fight for their dreams, and belong in a country that seems to resent them. Yang expertly presents resonant themes-including privilege, assimilation, and solidarity-in nuanced ways, providing an entrée into contemporary issues for even the most uninformed young readers. Engaging with a political climate that is similar to current times, Mia is the compassionate, action-driven heroine today's readers deserve. An author's note reveals Yang's personal inspiration and extensive research. Ages 8—12. Agent: Tina Dubois, ICM Partners.

From Horn Book

July 1, 2018
Mia Tang, a resourceful and indomitable ten-year-old, takes on front desk duties at the Calivista Motel, where her parents are managers and 24/7 workers. Having been in the States (from China) for only two years, Mia's parents are thrilled to have this job after losing their old restaurant jobs and apartment and needing to live in their car. However, the family's grand dream of a free and prosperous life seems farther away than ever when a series of nightmarish events strikes. The washing machine breaks down. A customer's car is stolen. Mia's mother is beaten by robbers. And what will happen to the Tang family if Mr. Yao, the miserly motel owner, finds out that Mia's parents also have been secretly sheltering recent immigrants? Mia's gradual understanding of racism and prejudice in America and her subsequent activism are at the heart of this triumphant tale. Readers will admire Mia for her audacity and her creativity in finding solutions for seemingly insurmountable situations. Drawing largely on her personal experiences, Yang threads both comedy and social issues through Mia's relatable and entertaining storyline from a few decades ago (the 1990s) and makes it relevant to 2018 America. roxanne hsu feldman

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Publisher's Weekly

June 18, 2018
Yang draws effectively on her own childhood in this lively debut, which offers a candid portrait of one Chinese-American immigrant experience through the eyes of a gutsy, empathetic 10-year-old. In 1993, when Mia Tang's parents become managers of a California motel, she envisions bright times ahead: the motel has a pool, and Disneyland is just down the road. But the mean-spirited motel owner bans her from the pool and cheats her parents out of money they deserve, keeping Disneyland far out of reach. While her parents work tirelessly, Mia takes charge of the front desk-and much more. Believing that "sometimes, you have to... be creative to get what you want," and flouting her mother's repeated assertion that Mia's English will never be as proficient as native-born Americans', she writes letters-creatively forged-to aid others, including an African-American victimized by racial profiling and a Chinese immigrant abused by his boss. Mia's story is one of indefatigable hope and of triumph over injustice, and her voice is genuine and inspiring. Ages 8—12.

From Booklist

Starred review from April 15, 2018
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Set in the early 1990s in Anaheim, California, this earnest debut is partially inspired by the author's childhood. When Mia Tang's parents find a new job managing the Calivista motel, it seems like the answer to their prayers: free housing and a stable, secure job, neither of which have come easy to the recent Chinese immigrants. Fifth-grader Mia takes pride in working the front desk and becomes fast friends with the weeklies, for whom the motel is a semipermanent residence. But the motel's owner, Mr. Yao, is beyond mean?he's flat out racist?so Mia enters a writing contest to win their very own motel. It's the details that sing in this novel, particularly the small moments that feel like everything when you're a kid: winning (or not) the beloved classroom object, having your prized possession stolen, or being hurt by a parent's words. When Mia's mother says, You're a bicycle and the other kids are cars, meaning Mia's English will never be as good as a native speaker's, it's a crushing and lingering blow, especially for a budding writer. This book will help foster empathy for the immigrant experience for young readers, while for immigrant children, it is a much-needed and validating mirror. Though some of the events toward the end may stretch believability in an otherwise realistic novel, there is plenty to appreciate and admire. Deserving of shelf space in every classroom and library.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

From Kirkus

Starred review from March 15, 2018
Through the story of fifth-grader Mia Tang, readers experience the courage, hard work, and dreams of a young Chinese immigrant. A small room behind the office of the Calivista Motel is home for Mia and her parents. Hired by the rich, coal-hearted Mr. Yao, the family works bone-numbing hours cleaning rooms, fixing problems, and managing the front desk. Troubles check in from every direction: at home, where her mom belittles her love of writing; at school, where bullies and lies surround her; and especially at the motel, where the family battles financial ruin. Yet along the seemingly endless roller coaster of poverty, hope appears in small places. Debut author Yang weaves in autobiographical content while creating a feisty and empowered heroine. The supporting characters are rich in voice and context, with multiple villains and friends that achingly reveal life in America in the 1990s for persons of color and those living in poverty. Heavy themes, including extortion, fraud, and racism, are balanced with the naïve dreams and determination of a 10-year-old. The power of Mia's newfound skill in English pushes her to fight for her community, which has lovingly become her adopted family in this new land. With bittersweet information on Chinese immigration to America added in an author's note, this book captures many important themes to explore individually or in the classroom. Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages. (Historical fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From School Library Journal

Starred review from March 1, 2018

Gr 4-6-Mia Tang and her parents expected to work hard when they came to the United States, but they had no idea how difficult things would be. After a year or two struggling to make ends meet, they find themselves managing a motel for a cruel and exploitive owner. The work is exhausting and the problems are many, but the Tangs approach their new responsibility with determination, creativity, and compassion, making friends everywhere and sheltering a trickle of immigrants in worse straits than themselves. Ten-year-old Mia takes over the front desk, and makes it her own, while dreaming of a future as a writer. Based on Yang's own experiences as a new immigrant in the 1980s and 1990s, her novel speaks openly of hardship, poverty, assault, racism, and bullying, but keeps a light, positive tone throughout. Mia herself is an irresistible protagonist, and it is a pleasure to see both her writing and her power grow through a series of letters that she sends to remedy injustices. The hefty and satisfying dose of wish fulfillment that closes the story feels fully earned by the specificity and detailed warmth of Yang's setup. Many young readers will see themselves in Mia and her friends. VERDICT A swiftly moving plot and a winsome protagonist make this a first purchase for any collection, especially where realistic fiction is in demand.-Katya Schapiro, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From AudioFile Magazine

Narrator Sunny Lu lives up to her first name in portraying Mia Tang. Lu captures the fifth grader's qualities of cheer, ingenuity, and resilience. Mia's parents, who are Chinese immigrants, work 24/7 to scrape together a living in 1990s Anaheim, California. When they find a motel to manage, plucky Mia enthusiastically takes responsibility for the front desk. Lu fills her portrait of Mia with the warmth and tenderness that earn the caring girl friends among those who stay at the hotel. Further, she demonstrates the courage to stand up for those who face racism. Mia herself faces prejudice from privileged classmates and a seemingly rigid mother. Lu expresses her frustrations and humiliations, but she also shows Mia's determination, unflagging hope, and ability to find solutions for the most difficult situations. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine